Gatwick airport would be hit hardest by new London runway plans

Kate McCann is a reporter at City A.M. She covers politics and insurance and can be contacted at kate.mccann@cityam.com.

Follow Kate

Kate McCann

“A new runway at Gatwick would increase its airport charges” (Source: Getty)

Gatwick airport would take the biggest hit if a new runway was built in London, while Heathrow stands to gain the most from expansion plans, a new report out today claims.

Credit ratings agency Moody’s has concluded that a new runway on site or at Heathrow would be bad for Gatwick, as expansion would mean more expensive airport charges. Adding capacity at Heathrow would also result in increasing competition.

Xavier Lopez del Rincon, a Moody’s senior analyst and author of the report published today, said: “A runway at Heathrow would allow the airport to benefit from growth in future traffic volumes, and a new runway at Gatwick would not take significant traffic from Heathrow.

“Gatwick, on the other hand, would be vulnerable to airlines switching to an expanded Heathrow, whilst a new runway at Gatwick would increase its airport charges and could alienate its price-sensitive airlines.”

The Airports Commission, headed up by Sir Howard Davies, announced its shortlisted options in November. These include two designs at Heathrow, one at Gatwick and one at Stansted.